We recommend Roland Sledge, 66, a Houston lawyer with 35 years in the oil, gas and energy field. He is a vice present for VAALCO Energy in Houston, a company involved in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas.

Sledge grew up around the oil and gas business. If elected, he said, he plans to use his position to fight the over-regulation of the Texas oil and gas industry by Washington.

In the other railroad commission race on this year's ballot, incumbent Barry Smitherman is seeking election to the seat he was appointed to fill last July.

Smitherman, a former prosecutor of the Harris County District Attorney's office, was appointed to the Public Utility Commission in 2004 by Gov. Rick Perry. He became PUC chairman in 2007 and served in that capacity until Perry appointed him to the railroad commission.

His commendable performance on the PUC demonstrated his leadership and ability to manage an agency. Smitherman also gained a strong understanding of energy issues during his PUC tenure.

We urge Republican voters to give Smitherman the GOP nomination to the seat, which is tantamount to election because the Democrats failed to field a candidate.